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MUSIC
THE WHOLE COMPETITION WAS A JOY TO WITNESS, AS ALL THE MUSICIANS DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THE SPIRIT OF IT WITH FOCUS AND GOOD GRACE
THE THWAITES BACH COMPETITION
Luis Parés
The 21st Thwaites Bach Competition took place in the Old Library on 24 September. Boys from Year 7 to Year 13 took part, showcasing the strength of talent running throughout the College. Bach’s wonderful music always sets performers the utmost of technical challenges and all of our musicians had prepared well, making for an evening of accomplished musicianship. It was also great to hear Bach performed on such a variety of instruments. The competition was adjudicated by Professor Vanessa Latarche, Head of Keyboard and Chair of International Keyboard Studies at the Royal College of Music, who gave insightful and expert critiques of each performance, commenting on elements that worked, and providing the musicians with helpful suggestions as to how to improve other aspects of their playing. Four performers were awarded Highly Commended: Perkyns Ho (piano, Year 9) for his sensitive performance of the Allemande and Rondeau from Partita no. 2 in C minor, BWV 826; Brooke Storey (organ, Year 12) for a virtuosic Fantasia in G major, BWV 572; Albert Dai (piano, Year 12) for some impressive voicing in the Prelude in C major, BWV 846, from Book 1 of the Well- Tempered Clavier; and Thomas Purvis (cello, Year 10) for an extrovert and musically engaging account of the Prelude and Courante from the Cello Suite no. 1 in G major, BWV 1007. The whole competition was a joy to witness, as all the musicians dedicated themselves to the spirit of it with focus and good grace. The fitting winner from a host of very fine performances was Finlay Johnston (piano, Year 13) for his dazzling skill and musicality in the challenging Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major, BWV 848, from Book 1 of the Well- Tempered Clavier.
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